More young workers injured than any other month; study says safety is often not a part of their work experiences

August 8, 2008 – HALIFAX, NS: Despite what numerologists say, 08/08/08 won't be a lucky day for four young Nova Scotia workers, if last year's workplace injury stats hold true.

In 2007, 118 young workers suffered time-loss injuries in August. That means about four workers every single day were injured seriously enough they couldn’t return to their next shift. In fact, more Nova Scotia workers under 25 are injured in August than in any other month, says the Workers' Compensation Board.

So far, 2008 has been no exception. Between January 1 and July 31, 2008, some 450 workers under 25 had suffered time-loss injuries in Nova Scotia, according to preliminary WCB statistics.

Most injuries to young people happen in industries that tend to attract younger, part-time, seasonal employees, such as retail and food and beverage. Retail sales persons and clerks, food service counter attendants and food preparers, and cooks are the top three occupations reported in time-loss injuries to workers under 25 in 2007.

Overall some 1,900 young workers are hurt every summer, about 400 of them seriously enough to lose time from work.

Fingers remain the most injured body part, with some 874 cuts, amputations, burns, crushes and more in 2007. These injuries underline the need for safe work practices, proper training, and machine guarding, especially in food preparation and construction.

Among time-loss injuries, backs are the most frequently hurt body part, with some 231 time-loss injuries. Sprains and strains account for more than half of all time-loss injury, as workers of all ages put undue strain on their bodies, often performing tasks that have not been safely designed.

"Many young people tend to work summer jobs to save money for the school year. Many also work part time," says MJ MacDonald, WCB Director of Prevention Services. "Employers should ensure they provide safety orientation to all new employees, including job specific training and give safety refreshers to current employees. Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work."

WCB-commissioned research conducted by Saint Mary’s University suggests that safety is a surprisingly small part of young workers’ experiences on the job. The report says that although participants in the study reported experiencing injuries and near-miss incidents, they minimized these occurrences and attributed such events to carelessness. Supervisors and coworkers also viewed injuries as a normal and expected part of the job.

"If there weren’t like a huge rush I would do it the safe way but once the adrenalin in the kitchen gets going I would work fast to get squared away," says "Annie,"* a young worker and the subject in one of ten in-depth interviews held across Nova Scotia for the report. "When it gets going I would cut corners… I'm new and I want to please."

The challenge for employers, and parents, is making safety relevant to young workers. MacDonald encourages parents to speak to their children about their right to refuse unsafe work before starting any job.

"No paycheck is worth an injury," she says. "This isn’t just about summer jobs. We see all too frequently the tragedy that can occur in the workplace. Part time or full time, safety must be an absolute priority in every job."

*NAMES OF STUDY PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED

Cross-section of injuries to workers under 25 in 2008, from various industries:

AGE	VERBATIM INJURY DESCRIPTION
16	EMPTYING FRYER, CORD GOT CAUGHT ON CONTAINER, SPILLED HOT FAT, BADLY BURNED FOOT
20	CHASING AN ESCAPED MINK SLIPPED ON WOOD CHIPS
19	FRONT END LOADER CAME DOWN ON TOP OF FOOT
24	EMPTYING COMPOST CART, CART FELL OFF CART DUMPER , KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS
22	LADDER SLIPPED, FELL 13 FEET.
24	NAILING WOOD FRAMING. GUN SLIPPED OUT OF POSITION AND DISCHARGED INTO FINGER.
23	ROPE CAME OFF HAULER AND STRUCK  IN FACE
16	WENT BEHIND FORKLIFT, FORKLIFT KNOCKED WORKER DOWN,  RAN OVER LEFT LEG AND BROKE ANKLE AND LEG BONES
23	WHILE CLEANING CONVEYOR BELT WORKER’S CLOTHING CAUGHT, DRAGGING AND CAUSING LACERATION TO FACE/NECK
20	DURING CRISIS WITH CLIENT, LEFT SHOULDER WAS INJURED FROM STRUGGLE TO RESTRAIN CLIENT
24	SMELLED UNKNOWN FUMES AT WORK, DISORIENTED, UNABLE  TO FORM PROPER SENTENCES
24	BENT OVER TO LIFT UP PILLOW ON RESIDENTS BED, WENT TO STRAIGHTEN UP FELT PAIN ACROSS MIDDLE BACK
23	POWER SAW CUT LEG WHILE CUTTING TREE LIMB - BRANCH AND TREE SHIFTED, PUSHING SAW AGAINST LEG
22	FORCEFULLY EXTENDING RIGHT ELBOW, HEARD POP AND SUDDEN  ONSET OF PAIN WHILE BREAKING DOWN TURKEYS
23	WHILE TURNING OVER A BOX TO SEE PRICE, BOX OPENED AND MIRROR FELL OUT AND STRUCK FOOT
21	SMOKE INHALATION FROM EXPLOSION AT WORK, BURN TO LEFT BABY FINGER
21	AMPUTATED FINGER TIP ON HAMBURGER MACHINE
23	HAMMER HEAD CAME OFF WHILE SWINGING, STRIKING WORKER ON BACK OF HAND

Related Material:

Backgrounder: Young Worker Injury in Nova Scotia

SMU Study: Speaking of Safety

About the WCB
The Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (WCB) is committed to keeping Nova Scotians safe and secure from workplace injury. The WCB provides workplace injury insurance for more than 18,000 employers, representing about 300,000 workers across the province. The WCB sets the standard for workplace injury insurance by informing and inspiring Nova Scotians in the prevention of workplace injury. If an injury occurs, we support those whose lives it touches by championing a timely return to safe and healthy work.

For more information please contact:

Michelle MacLean
Manager, Communications
Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
902-491-8102
michelle.maclean@wcb.gov.ns.ca